Pueblo County’s unemployment rate jumps to highest in the state

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The unemployment rate in Pueblo County spiked to 11.3% in December, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, making it the worst in the state to end 2020.

It’s an increase from the month before when Pueblo County reported 8.3% unemployment in November, putting it in the fourth highest spot that month.

Senior Economist for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Ryan Gedney puts the numbers into context.

“These data provide a snapshot of Colorado’s employment situation as the state was experiencing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases and following the implementation of additional business restrictions due to multiple counties shifting to the COVID-19 red dial in mid-November,” Gedney said.

Even though Pueblo County has moved to level orange since then, allowing some businesses to reopen at a low capacity, the demand for work remains much greater than the supply.

“I can’t tell you how many applications I submit or resumes I submit and I can’t even get a call back,” said Kathie Zampparelli, who's unemployed in Pueblo County.

She said she's not surprised that Pueblo County has hit the state's top spot for unemployment.

“It’s pretty much penny to penny,” said Zampparelli. “Right now, I think I have enough to cover rent for the month that’s coming up and then I’m toast.”

As a state, Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in December to 8.4%. The national unemployment rate was unchanged from November at 6.7%.